Stella Dallas (1937 film)
| Stella Dallas | |
|---|---|
 Original theatrical poster |
|
| Directed by | King Vidor |
| Produced by | Samuel Goldwyn |
| Written by | Harry Wagstaff Gribble Gertrude Purcell Sarah Y. Mason Victor Heerman Joe Bigelow (uncredited) Olive Higgins Prouty (Novel) |
| Starring | Barbara Stanwyck John Boles Anne Shirley |
| Music by | Alfred Newman |
| Cinematography | Rudolph Maté |
| Studio | Samuel Goldwyn Productions |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
| Release date(s) | August 6, 1937 |
| Running time | 106 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Stella Dallas is a 1937 American film based on the Olive Higgins Prouty novel of the same name. It was directed by King Vidor, and stars Barbara Stanwyck, John Boles, and Anne Shirley. Stanwyck was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role, and Shirley for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. The film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Stella Martin (Barbara Stanwyck), the daughter of a mill worker in a post-World War I Massachusetts factory town, is determined to better herself. She sets her sights on mill executive Stephen Dallas (John Boles) and catches him at an emotionally vulnerable time. Stephen is the son of a man who killed himself after losing his fortune. Penniless, Stephen disappeared from high society, intending to marry his fiancée Helen (Barbara O'Neil) once he was financially able to support her. However, just as he reaches his goal, he reads in the newspaper the announcement of her wedding. So he marries Stella.
A year later, their daughter Laurel (played by Anne Shirley as a young woman) is born. To Stella's great surprise, she discovers she has a strong maternal instinct. Even when she is out dancing and partying, she cannot help but think about her child. As Laurel grows up, Stella's ambition and scheming to rise socially is redirected to her daughter.
Stephen dotes on Laurel as well, but she is the only bond between husband and wife. He tries to help Stella become more refined, but without success. He also strongly disapproves of her continuing friendship with the vulgar Ed Munn (Alan Hale). Finally, when Stephen receives a promotion that requires him to move to New York, Stella tells him he can go without her or Laurel; they separate, but remain married. Laurel stays with her mother, but visits her father periodically.
Years later, Stephen runs into Helen, now a wealthy widow with three sons. They renew their acquaintance. Laurel is invited to stay at Helen's mansion; she gets along very well with Helen and her sons. Stephen asks Stella for a divorce, but she turns him down.
Stella takes Laurel to a fancy resort, where Laurel and Richard Grosvenor III (Tim Holt) fall in love. However, when Stella makes her first appearance after recovering from an illness, she becomes the target of derision for her vulgarity, though she herself is unaware of it. Embarrassed for her mother, Laurel insists they leave at once without telling her why. On the train back, Stella overhears the truth.
Stella goes to speak with Helen. After learning that Helen and Stephen would marry if they could, she agrees to a divorce and asks that Laurel go live with them. Helen realizes the reason for the request and agrees.
When Laurel learns of the arrangement, she refuses to put up with it and returns home. However, Stella has been notified by a telegram and is ready for her. Stella pretends that she wants Laurel off her hands so she can marry Ed Munn and travel to South America. Laurel runs crying back to her father.
Later, Laurel and Richard get married. Stella watches them exchange their wedding vows from the city street through a window (whose curtains have been opened at Helen's order), her presence unnoticed in the darkness and among the other curious bystanders. Then, she slips away in the rain.
[edit] Cast
- Barbara Stanwyck as Stella (Martin) Dallas
- John Boles as Stephen Dallas
- Anne Shirley as Laurel Dallas
- Barbara O'Neil as Helen (Morrison) Dallas
- Alan Hale as Ed Munn
- Marjorie Main as Mrs. Martin, Stella's mother
- Tim Holt as Richard Grosvenor III
- George Wolcott as Charlie Martin
- Hattie McDaniel as Maid
[edit] References
- ^ National Film Preservation Board. "Films Selected to The National Film Registry, 1989-2010". Library of Congress, accessed October 28, 2011.
[edit] Further reading
- Williams, Linda. "'Something Else besides a Mother': 'Stella Dallas' and the Maternal Melodrama," Cinema Journal Vol. 24, No. 1 (Autumn, 1984), pp. 2-27 in JSTOR
- Stevenson, Diane. "Three Versions of Stella Dallas" for Jeffrey Crouse (editor), Film International, Issue 54, Volume, 9. Number 6 (2011), pp. 30-40.
